Category: Kaveri

Dharma

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I’ve always had a soft spot for Ashoka who was an innovative Emperor in India over two thousand years ago.

He was the emperor who converted to Buddhism after regretting his army killing thousands in the battle to take over what is now part of the state of Odisha.

…

This week, I’m helping Kaveri with her revision and learning about the Dharma Mahamatras, appointed by the emperor to do good.

I like that

I’m feeling the connections

🤭

Look

We’ve even got our own copy of an Ashoka column, in the house. It was one of the ways he promoted good amongst his people.

So maybe I’m a reincarnated Dharma Mahamatras?

I quite fancy that.

Look at the evidence: social and community work, experimenting with participative democracy in England, radical work with disabled people, ‘Seeing is Believing’ events in India to establish community/business partnerships, facilitating the development of hundreds of community projects and groups, in the name of MAnjula helping young and old people and gifting almost 50 bicycles. I even helped design and deliver — for an Indian company — European-wide workshops on interpreting their ethical policies into appropriate daily business behaviour.

Ok ok, that’s enough of the trumpet blaring. It’s important to say we should be facilitators in helping each other.

Farrell factoid footnote.

What’s the difference between illness and wellness?

I and we, admittedly a joke but with a serious message. We should connect and cooperate to be kind to each other. As sapiens we’ve taken a wrong turning.

I’ve always looked for the ‘we’.

This is so obvious to me.

A top priority is ..

.. Kaveri and helping her develop and grow. When you meet her ask what BK is.

A wonderbly gift

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Kind guests donated two books for Kaveri

I collected the parcel from the post office today.

We’ll reveal more …
Of what’s in these wonderbly books once Kaveri receives her presents.

The officers tried their best but they were unable to delete the tax charges.

It was over 30 U.K. pounds or 3,000 rupees for two books. That’s the equivalent of what we pay for over a month of Kaveri’s education AND the cost of one of the very special personalised books.

Not good.

Farrell Factoid

In Manjula’s memory we give and support. That’s so far included over 50 bicycles, meals for elders at an ashram, creativity days for young people (including this one for visually impaired young women)

The costs of education and meetings of young people (aka reflective space), teaching and presentations.

Sharing

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I wasn’t feeling well this week and so Kaveri wrote me a note

How kind and thoughtful is that?

… and then I stumbled across this study which reaffirmed what we know —- how relationships are critical to a happy sustainable, satisfying life.

What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness (Robert Waldinger | TEDxBeaconStreet)

Here’s my girls …

My Indian wife and daughter.

Farrell Factoid Footnote

Kaveri isn’t actually my daughter but it’s as if I’ve ‘adopted’ her and support her on behalf of my beautiful caring compassionate wife

New friends, which name?

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People for Animals appealed for people to adopt their rescue dogs

We know PFA from when Lucie was a pup. They spayed her and made the tell tale notch in her ear so she wouldn’t be picked up in the street and operated on again.

We chose two new friends

and appeared in the ‘Star of Mysore’

But what should we call them?

….

We’ve had the following suggestions. (Some more than once)

Ging (Ginj)

Luce (Luca)

Edwina (teddy bear)

Kappu 

Shunti 

Ginger (Rogers)

Fred (Astaire)

Inji (ginger)

Kari (black)

Tom

Hebden and Bridget ( a play on Hebden Bridge, where I’m from in the UK)

Amy and Vince (amor vincit omnia)

Blackie and Cinnamon

Black and Decker 

Karrupa or Karuppan

Inji —- Together becoming …. Karrupinji 

Pepper and Paprika. 

Black and Tan 

Ranelot and Bufolet 

(french children’s book names for Frog and Toad) 

Marquise de Merteuil and Vicomte de Valmont

(from Dangerous Liaisons to match Billet-Doux, our cat’s name)

Paddington 

Spike 

Summer

Shadow

Biscuit

Cheech and Chong

Luca

Lucia

Babu and Bibi 

Ping and Pong

Jean-Philippe and Marie-Chantal .

ginger

Venus and Pluto

Bingo 

Tofo

Coco

Tango

Momo

Milti

Millu

Broono

Blacky

Browny 

Pancho

Jasmine

…

Thanks for your thoughtful suggestions

If there’s any strong favourites, let me know.

I’ll discuss with Captain Kaveri, ably assisted by General SB 

Update on names

Luca (Lucka)

Tom

….

Jasmine (jas)

Gingee, Shingee or a variation.

Elite Skating

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Adithya the coach of elite academy

has been a fantastic help with Kaveri.

Kaveri has changed to a ‘day’ school, spends alternate weeks at mysore bed and breakfast, can therefore now attend the academy on a regular basis.

Today we were at the heats for state races.

Kaveri got a silver.

And was able to spend quality time with friends.

Kaveri has shown she can concentrate, focus and achieve through her time at the academy. I needn’t have worried.

Factoid

In her final race she gestured for her friend to pass her for third place, as she hadn’t been placed before. That’s my girl.

Homework

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Kaveri returned to my home yesterday after a week with .. grandmother (aka mummy), grandfather, and the very pregnant Radhika (auntie aka sister)

Followed by dinner with Florian

Set up for selfies at Olive Garden.

Next day— the ordeal of homework with me (helping!)

Listen up

It was the usual basic facts but the bit I didn’t know was Mahavira’s Jain teachings….

It’s pretty cool.

Elvis has left the room

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It’s actually Ganesh who’s left to go swimming in the river kaveri.

He rested with us, had his fill

and now he’s gone.

Chai all round.

Followed by lunch at Poojari’s where MAnjula and I used to go.

Thanks for your help guys

Perfect Storm

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Well I’m feeling it at the moment.

It’s one thing after another.

…

Registering with the Foreigners Registration Office is always unpredictable and stressful.

It’s extra this time as I’m not knowing where

my next visa will come from

…

Owner wants his house back, after sixteen years, it’s the house I’ve lived in for the longest, in my whole life.

It’s where MAnjula created our home, introduced it to the world as Mysore Bed and Breakfast and where she lit up my life like a smiling sunbeam for nine years. It’s where we sited a blue plaque (as a famous person lived here), her library and entertained thousands of people.

A museum even jokingly claimed it as their annex because it’s a living breathing art gallery from around India.

Pictures, sculptures, paintings, carvings, posters, books, all sorts of artefacts (aka clutter) from around (mainly) India, Europe and even Canada and the US.

…

Continuing to sponsor and support eleven year old Kaveri in spite of her mother and new partner sabotaging us, by changing schools, days of absence and inability to help

As MAnjula would say ‘we’ll see’.

It’s times like these that we recognise the good things in life.

and learn from our challenges

This evening

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We managed to fit in homework of Maths and Hindi (I was delegated to doing some illustration), skating, shopping for Rakhi

and a new comb (my morning duties include hair combing, so the comb has suffered), supper and we fitted in a the angry birds movie. Lots.

I think I spotted real blissful looks from Kav at some sloppy bits.

Night time story this week has been.

Incredible insights into slavery, disability and a woman pharoah. The last, nicely timed to follow a discussion on the pyramids.